String trimmer with adjustable guard assembly

Abstract

The adjustable guard assembly is connected to a head assembly of a string trimmer. The adjustable guard assembly includes a housing. The housing includes a mounting portion, which connects to a motor case. The housing further includes a deck portion, which extends from the mounting portion. The deck portion has a proximal end and a distal end. A first skirt member extends along and downward from the distal end of the deck portion in a generally radially outward direction. A first blade assembly includes a first blade member, provided in the interior of the first skirt member, to engage a rotating string member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A removable guard assembly for a string trimmer, comprising; a housing, the housing having a mounting portion having an opening formed therein, a deck portion extending from the mounting portion, the deck portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and a first skirt member extending downward from the distal end of the deck portion, the mounting portion including a substantially flat support surface configured to support a portion of a bottom surface of a head assembly of the string trimmer; a blade provided in an interior of the first skirt member to engage a rotating string member, wherein the mounting portion has a seam formed thereon to permit the mounting portion to be separated and remove the removable guard assembly from the string trimmer. 
     
     
       2. The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion includes two adjacent surfaces that define the seam lie and each of the adjacent surfaces are substantially flat. 
     
     
       3. The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion includes a reinforcement rim that defines a portion of the seam, and the seam separates the reinforcement rim so that the opening can be accessed, permitting the guard assembly to be removed from a motor case without removing a cutting head. 
     
     
       4. The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the deck portion includes an aperture configured to receive a second blade assembly of the string trimmer. 
     
     
       5. The guard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second skirt member operatively engaged with the first skirt member. 
     
     
       6. The guard assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the operative engagement between the first and second skirt members defines a pivot point that facilitates pivotable movement of the second skirt member from an extended position to a retracted position, relative to the first skirt member. 
     
     
       7. The guard assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the operative engagement between the first and second skirt members is a removable connection, such that in a connected position, the first skirt member and second skirt member form a third skirt member. 
     
     
       8. The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion, deck portion and skirt member are made of a single unitary element. 
     
     
       9. The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion is made of a flexible resilient material allowing the mounting portion to return to its non-separated position. 
     
     
       10. An assembly comprising:
 a head assembly on a distal end of a support shaft and a handle assembly on a proximal end of the support shaft, the head assembly having a motor casing enclosing a motor and a rotary head operatively connected to the motor; 
 a guard assembly having mounting portion having an opening formed therein, a deck portion extending from the mounting portion, a skirt member extending downward from an end of the deck portion; and 
 a blade provided in the interior of the skirt member to engage a rotating string member; 
 wherein the mounting portion fully encloses and is removably secured to the head assembly, the mounting portion including a seam, the seam allowing the mounting portion to be separated and remove the guard assembly from the head assembly; and 
 wherein the mounting portion, deck portion and skirt member are formed as a single unitary element. 
 
     
     
       11. The string trimmer of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting portion includes two adjacent surfaces that define the seam lie and each of the adjacent surfaces are substantially flat. 
     
     
       12. The string trimmer of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting portion is made of a flexible resilient material allowing the mounting portion to return to its non-separated position. 
     
     
       13. The string trimmer of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting portion includes a reinforcement rim around a perimeter of the opening, the seam separates the reinforcement rim so that the opening can be accessed, permitting the guard assembly to be removed from the motor case without removing the cutting head.